#25 Colorado flexes muscles in JR Payne's return to Cedar City with big win over Southern Utah

In her first game back in Cedar City since leaving the Southern Utah women's basketball head coaching post, JR Payne and her Colorado Buffaloes wasted no time in showing they were deserving of the #25 spot in the AP Poll with an 81-47 win over the Southern Utah Lady Thunderbirds, snapping SUU's four-game winning streak.

Colorado smothered Southern Utah's guards from the opening jump, heavy hedging on ball screens and forcing eight SUU turnovers in the first quarter, opening up a 22-13 lead at the end of the quarter.

"Colorado is a great team," said Southern Utah head coach Tracy Sanders. "We struggled right away with their hard hedge on the defensive side, and they made everything difficult for us tonight."

The Buffaloes forced SUU into 26 turnovers throughout the game.

"We knew they were going to defend us like that and it's something that you try to go through in practice but I don't think it was simulated quite how it was going to be. I thought we tried dribble a bit too much instead of pass through it a little bit."

Colorado came into Tuesday's game ranked #27 in the country in steals with 95, and tied for 26th in steals per game at 11.9.

Against the Thunderbirds, Colorado racked up 20 totals steals, led by Peanut Tuitele with four.

Colorado's defensive pressure held SUU's guard trio of Madelyn Eaton, Daylani Ballena, and Cherita Daugherty to just ten points on 4/14 shooting. Eaton only attempted one shot, missing a pullup midrange jumper.

"I thought they did a great job on quite a few of our kids," said Sanders. "The hard hedge kept Madelyn from driving to the basket and that kept her from attacking. They have great one-on-one defenders."

Overall, Southern Utah shot just 37.0% from the field, and shot a combined 6/25 in the middle quarters.

Darri Dotson was the only Thunderbird to finish in double figures, with 16 points on an efficient 6/12 shooting. Dotson also mixed in three blocks on the defensive end.

"I thought Darri was aggressive (and) played hard," said Sanders. "I thought some of our girls off the bench played really hard."

Daugherty, Lizzy Williamson, and Sam Johnston all had six a piece for Southern Utah.

Quay Miller scored 18 points off the bench for Colorado to lead all scorers.

Sanders noted Miller's quick first-step, length, and effectivness out of the high post as strengths for Miller.

"When you are at the high post and you are a great high post player and you can get past your defender, it's harder for the help side to get there quick enough," said Dotson.

With the win, Payne's club continues its unbeaten start to the season at 9-0.

Payne said she spent her time in Cedar City reconnecting with old friends, taking in sites of the city, and even drove past coach Sanders on Tuesday prior to the game, which she says is "total Cedar City."

"It really did feel like coming home," said Payne. "I just absolutely love this place. I love the arena, I love the campus, the community, and the people. I really tried to get my emotions out before the game so that I could focus on the game. But in the 48 hours that we've been here, we've loved every minute of it."

After the final horn, Payne and Sanders embraced in a quick hug before heading to their respective locker rooms.

Payne stuck around after the game to talk to former player and current Southern Utah assistant Hailey Mandelko and other members of the Cedar City and Southern Utah University community.

"It's just fun having her here," said Sanders. "I know how much she meant to this community and to the program."

Sean Ellertson is a sports reporter for the St. George Spectrum & Daily News. To continue to support his work, please subscribe to The Spectrum. Follow Sean on Twitter @SeanEllertson.

This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: #25 Colorado flexes muscles in JR Payne's return to Cedar City with big win over Southern Utah